Senate Rejects Controversial Abortion Amendment

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 5:37PM
Staff in Ben Nelson, Congress, Health Care, nelson amendment, senate

The Senate tabled an amendment to health care reform legislation that would offer specific language to bar federal subsidies for abortion following a 54 to 45 vote early Tuesday evening.

The amendment was a key factor in securing the vote of Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), who proposed the amendment with the support of Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

Last Friday, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said it was unlikely the amendment would pass, but that the Senate would pursue an alternative provision to ensure votes from Nelson and other pro-life Democrats.

With support from Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), the only Republican Senator to approve passing a draft of the legislation through the Finance Committee, unlikely, Senate Democratic leadership will need to deliver the votes of all 60 Democrats and left-leaning independents to pass the legislation.

A similar amendment in the House health care bill proposed by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) was approved by 240-194 vote.

Article originally appeared on Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media (http://www.talkradionews.com/).